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cmb13, You mean "At Last"? I liked that one too. It and "Laura" have that cocktail lounge jazz sound that I think is fun to play. I personally skipped "Gilligan" (although its pretty straightforward) and "Choo-Choo" (might go back to it at some point) in favor of starting Alfred AIO level 2.

Even though I have copy of Anna Magdalena's workbook, my teacher wants to hold off on the Bach for now.

Total piano newbie here Just bought myself my first Digital Piano (px 750) and grabbed the all in one book as well. I played violin for 10 years when I was a kid so hopefully I remember my music theory!

I'm thinking of taking some proper lessons maybe after going through the first book. Do you guys take lessons or are you mostly just using the book?

I'm thinking of taking some proper lessons maybe after going through the first book. Do you guys take lessons or are you mostly just using the book?

That is precisely my experience. I went through the first book on my own, then began lessons. The first book can be completed in rather short time, especially if you have any sort of music reading experience at all. The techniques and complexity that my teacher assists me with would have been wasted on my during the first book. It is my opinion that a competent adult able to spend a decent amount of time playing should save their money during the first book. Of course, if you have $1000-1500 to spare for a year of mildly effective lessons, then by all means, go for it.

I've nearly finished book 1. Just a few pieces left to go. I only started it at Christmas but I think with previous music reading experience on the guitar I didn't find it too difficult. I've probably played more piano than I thought I had, all those times I would mess about over the years, off and on again.

I looked through book 2 and I'm very dissapointed. The pieces don't seem to have got any harder at all. I think I'm better off if I go on to more challenging songs.

I had a look at the real version of The Entertainer. That's TOO challenging for now. lol I can play the first part very slowly but I think it's going to take me too long to get up to speed.

I've been learning Invention No 8 BWV 779 by Bach, and that seems to be about the right level. I've also learned a large part of Andante K 545 by Mozart. Some of this I could almost site read, other parts would take me two hours to get two bars of music down. I also learned Everything Means Nothing To Me by Elliott Smith, by ear.

Still working on book one. havent been online much, been busy with other things. One thing I do need to do is make a daily practice schedule and stick with it. I am enjoying the piano very much though. playing a few songs by ear also.

I started playing piano on Christmas day-2013 :), using Alfred's Basic and ALL in One Adult Piano Course Book. I use the apple version which is presented in 3 volumes available on apple store in 3 volumes, however I see all three volumes are covering only BOOK#1. A very good point of the application is that you can easily play the clip and audio guides beside each music sheet and this works excellent for me since I have no time to go piano school or to get a teacher. However after comparing these applications with main book I noticed some guides/ notes are missing in apps and I have a look to the book as well.I started with a 90$ Casio piano and after 1 month I bought a K3-KAWAI. I used to play classic guitar for 2 yrs but never had this excitement with guitar. I’m very very happy with piano and every day before I go for work, and after arriving home I do my exercises(totally 2 hrs on average). Last week I started to play “BLOW THE MAN DOWN” and it was my first serious challenge. I read this topic and realized this song has challenged many others as well. Anyway after a week of exercise I can play it without problem and with metronome. I could feel BRIGHTLY the importance and effect of exercise and effort by ” BLOW THE MAN DOWN” song!Also I started 2 months ago studying two music theory books in parallel. I’m studying one book when I’m in train to go office or back home(totally 30 mines a day) and the other book at office using my lunch time(30 mind a day). Surprisingly both books are nearly finished after 2 months and I need to review it again since there are many rules and names which I can’t remember in one go!(maybe I’m getting old :D). the interesting thing about studying two books in parallel is the order of subjects are different, also to make or remember major and minor scales both use different methods. I strongly recommend you to start reading music theory in parallel with piano training specifcily if you are interested in music composing. You can use your music theory knowledge to challenge the music pieces, when you learns chords and scales you will have a beter undersstanging of the music pieces which can help you to master it faster. Morover, I do a new hanon exercise every week. I belive Hanon excersices are has been very effective on movements. Now, my main concern is about my finger style, I do watch youtube guides for finger style but still not sure if I’m n track?! Can any one please introduce me a good youtube for finger style?

Completed Book 1 this week. My teacher is not fond of Book 2, and we don't plan on using it. I have been doing Hanon exercises for a few months now, and scales in several keys (C G D A E B and now F). He wants to start working on some classical music, eg Bach.

Hi All. I'm 59 years old and have never played piano or keyboard and can't read music ! I have just purchased a Yamaha PSR-E433 Keyboard. I want to learn Piano and keyboard if possible, I'm told there's quite a big difference. I've had Alfreds book one for nearly two months and have reached Beautiful Brown Eyes...ouch ! Difficult ! What I wanted to say, and someone may have already posted this, apologies if so, but, if you want to hear any of the tunes from the book, someone called tinymozart has posted every one on youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/tinymozarts/search?query=alfredI've found these helpful when struggling. I have the DVD but not all tunes are on it, so this may help others. I wonder how long it takes on average to complete book 1 with 20 minutes per day of practice. I understand everyone is different but ball park would be good ? Great to have found this forum and knowing I'm not the only old codger to give this a go. Comments on piano learning and playing versus keyboard would be welcomed.

I am new also and I am also using "Alfred Basic and All in One Adult Piano Course." I know what you mean the song "Beautiful Brown Eyes," I am not really sure how it is play and I think the UTube is going to help me alot.

There are other songs in the book also, that I have no clue what they sound like. I find myself skipping around when I am practicing, I will learn the right hand first and then learn the left hand, then very slowly put both of the hands together to make the music.

I am 60 years old and I finally have my mother's old piano I can practice on, she visits in a few weeks and I hope to have something I can play for her.

It is frustrating at times to try to tell your hands at the same time which keys to play together. I continue to practice and it does get easier. I have been practicing since end of February 2014.

I have a note chart at the back of the piano keys so I know I am playing the correct keys. It comes in handy when something does not sound right.

I have not done book 1 (I had some previous experience) and went straight to book 2, however I understand an average time on book 1 is a year. You are both making good progress but the book gets much harder in the second half. Time spent in these early stages is time well invested, I don't want to say much more in case I scare you off lol. However suffice it to say learning piano is not easy and there is good days but some really bad days, we just all got to hang in there.

Don't forget to record your playing, one day you might want to listen back and smile. It's also just a good tool for marking progress and listening out for technical problems. We have a post here where we encourage people to post first recordings no matter how good or bad.

You may also find This channel is useful as this teacher has covered all of the Alfred repertoire and many other books.

I don't think this thread is especially busy at the moment but keep posting and we will keep encouraging...promise

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If this life is a simulation can I not be in the easy version where Bach was a drummer

I have a question for you - how many people from this topic, who started first, finished all three books?

That would a tough figure to guess at...hard to say how many started from scratch vs. returners. There is a poll taken every year on the forum that would give you an idea for the whole ABF population. You can go to the Alfred #2 and #3 threads and get a good idea of how many go on.

My guess would be that less than 10% go on to book 3, and maybe half go on to start book 2. In my own case I wised up and got a teacher about a third through #2, which she had no use for.

Hi steveknight, I'm tinymozarts, thanks for recommending my YouTube channel It's good to hear someone is finding it useful. I just wanted to mention that I've actually got the whole book in a playlist so you can find pieces you're learning easily - here's the link:

Thanks Tinymozart, great stuff. To JimF, you said you wised up, I'd be interested to know what you mean, I don't want to waste my time on books 2 and 3 if they're not generally considered to be the way to go. I should say though, that my main aim is to play keyboard with a band, BUT I'd love to be able to play "proper" stuff as an amatuer pianist would too. I'm 59 yrs old so don't know if I have time !!!

An adult beginner student brought in the Alfred adult self teaching book today and I looked at it. Her main complaint about it was the large number of nursery rhymes/children's songs. I looked through, and yes, there are tons of them. What are they doing in a book for adults? By "adult method book" do they mean "children's method book minus cartoons"?

Thanks Tinymozart, great stuff. To JimF, you said you wised up, I'd be interested to know what you mean, I don't want to waste my time on books 2 and 3 if they're not generally considered to be the way to go. I should say though, that my main aim is to play keyboard with a band, BUT I'd love to be able to play "proper" stuff as an amatuer pianist would too. I'm 59 yrs old so don't know if I have time !!!

Have a look at Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course "Jazz/Rock Course", it might be just what you're looking for.

My main issue with Alfred's books are that they are very American centric, names of notes etc. not a problem really but most of the tunes are not familiar to Brits. British piano learning courses / books seem harder to find, anyone else find this and any suggestions ?